Versions/EX1-447728

Update Information


Hello friends!

Now that the new year is upon us, we've got our minds set on steadily moving Spaced Out! towards launch. With the major systems in place, we're going to begin a regular release cycle of testing and updates. Starting today, we're going to have a DLC branch open at all times that we update fairly frequently. Once every 3 weeks, we will stabilize the DLC test branch and then update the default branch of the game.

To say that a different way: DLC owners can join the test branch for frequent updates and lots of opportunities to provide feedback as features develop, or you can remain on the default branch and enjoy updates to the game every 3 weeks.

Today we're starting the public testing for our freshest content, which consists primarily of bringing many of the base game rocket modules and engines into Spaced Out!, increasing your rocketry options dramatically. (New space destinations will be coming in another update.)

Additionally, there's a large rework of the Oxygen Masks which makes them behave more like the existing suits, with lockers and checkpoints. We've also taken this opportunity to expand on the suit mechanics, by adding durability and repair to the suits. This means that there will be ongoing infrastructure required to maintain your fleet of suits rather than a single one-time cost.

As always, please let us know if you encounter any issues on the testing branch in the [|bug forums], and thanks for your feedback!

What does this testing branch contain so far?
Here are the changes we've made so far in this update, loosely categorized:

Content and Features

 * DLC versions of some rocket engines and modules from the base game.
 * Added new smaller petroleum engine.
 * Balance pass on some rocket module key values (burden, engine power, engine efficiency, capacity)
 * Oxygen Masks reworked to work more like the previous suit implementations.
 * Added Oxygen Mask Locker
 * Added Oxygen Mask Marker
 * Added Crafting Table (you craft Oxygen Masks here)
 * Added Oxygen Mask tech item.
 * Deprecated old OxygenMaskStation building
 * Added durability system for equippable suits.
 * Added new intro Alert message

Worldgen

 * Swamp starting area tiles changed from Sandstone to Sedimentary Rock to match what is found in the swamp.
 * Worldgen borders now gradiate temperature between the adjacent subworlds. This should prevent temperature "leakage" through abyssalite. Note: doesn't fix subworlds "spilling over" the borders.

Fixes

 * Fixed issue causing invisible lines in diagnostic/resource charts
 * Fixed issue preventing diagnostic/resource charts from showing a full 5 cycle history.
 * Falling dupes on the edges of worlds are teleported to the telepad, rocket control station or center of world
 * Made Rocket tiles invincible and non-replaceable
 * Fixed Warp Portal Receiver duplicant interact sounds
 * Hid Rover pivot symbol.
 * Disabled Oversee Planetoid button until the world is discovered
 * Sealed Suits now actually clear the "Soiled Suit" status effect when a suit is unequipped.
 * Worn out jet suits now drop remaining fuel in a bottle.
 * Fix for ever growing diagnostic indicator dot in world selector issue
 * Fixed crash in some old saves with Yellowcake, which has been removed from the game.
 * Fixed crash that would occur when choosing destinations for rockets that had no passenger modules
 * Fixed issue causing small oxidizer tank to have more capacity than intended (2700->300kg)

Strings

 * Renamed Porta-Pod "Mini-Pod"
 * Swapped out more placeholder strings
 * Worn out suits now have unique names & descriptions
 * Updated strings for Korean and Russian

Animations

 * Art and animation changes for solid/liquid/gas rocket port buildings
 * New animations for when Duplicants and Rovers exit their landers
 * Added dupe interact states for the Mini Pod
 * Removed impact fx on hit state of critter and baby_critter
 * Added a missing scoutbot movement animation
 * Added cap symbols to launchpad to make the connection with the conduit ports look better.
 * Updated the artwork for the rocket_oxidizer_tank_small
 * Revised place art for the conduit ports
 * added a "worn_out" state to the suit and mask anims
 * Main menu dupe anim pass
 * Conduit port load/unload animations
 * added art that changes the form factor of some small rocket modules when to bridge with wider modules in a more appealing way.

Sound

 * Add sound for warp conduit sender/receiver duplicant interacts
 * Add sounds for Sweetle and Sweetle Larva
 * Hooked up some Mini-Pod sounds
 * Add sounds for Rocket Orbital Deploy Cargo Module
 * Add Rover sound effects.
 * Add Wormwood sounds

Other

 * Removed flicker fx from the launchpad light in the main menu. Now a slow pulse.
 * Trailblazer and Rover modules now have a wireframe to indicate that construction has been requested.
 * Camera zooming should be smoother at low framerates and inconsistent framerates. Also, one "notch" of zoom is the same amount in both directions.
 * Modified place art for launchpad and conduit port buildings
 * Added status item to launch pads with rockets that have no spacefarer modules

What is open testing?
"Open testing" means players get to test-drive new content early and give us feedback and suggestions before it goes live. Because this is an unfinished and in active development version of the game, it's pretty likely you'll encounter bugs, crashes or balance issues while playing these builds. We'll try to fix any problems that crop up as quickly as we can, but it's possible you'll lose progress in your games while playing on the Testing branch.

Regarding performance, the Testing branch has additional debugging tools enabled to help us track down crashes. This makes the game run more slowly than the live version of the game.

Please also be aware that once a save is loaded in the Testing branch, it cannot be reopened again in the previous Live branch or previous builds.

What do I do if I find a crash or a bug?
Post it up on the [|Bug Tracker] and we'll fix it as soon as we can. If you can attach a copy of your save file to your report, that helps us even more as we can pinpoint the source of problem more quickly.

Do I have to play the open testing build?
Nope! If you'd prefer to only play a stable build, you can continue to play in the current Default branch until the game launches in full. Playing the Open Testing build isn't necessary, but it helps us a lot to receive your feedback and reports - if you're interested, try it out!

How do I become an open tester?
There's no sign up or registration for becoming an open tester. If you own Oxygen Not Included plus the Spaced Out! DLC and want to join the Testing Branch, all you have to do is play the Open Testing build on Steam.

How do I play the open testing build?
You can switch your branch on Steam using the instructions below:

How to change branches in Oxygen Not Included (Steam)

 * You must own the Spaced Out! DLC
 * In Steam, click on Library > Games.
 * Scroll down to Oxygen Not Included.
 * Right-click and select Properties.
 * Go to the BETAS tab.
 * In the dropdown, select the name of the branch you want to play. In this case, the branch name is "public_testing"
 * This branch does not require a password.
 * In that same Properties window, go to the Local Files tab and press "Verify Integrity Of Game Cache."
 * Your game will be updated to the the previous branch.
 * Launch and play Oxygen Not Included